biennial report 2013 -15 - water and catchments - water ... · sustainable irrigation program...

Sustainable Irrigation Program

Biennial Report 2013-15

© The State of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning 2016

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. You are free to re-use the work under that licence, on the

condition that you credit the State of Victoria as author. The licence does not apply to any images, photographs or branding, including the Victorian

Coat of Arms, the Victorian Government logo and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) logo. To view a copy of this

licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

ISSN 2207-5062 (Online)

Image on front cover: Grapes near Mildura in the Mallee Region. Photo courtesy of Marcia Riederer

Disclaimer

This publication may be of assistance to you but the State of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any

kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence which may

arise from you relying on any information in this publication.

Accessibility

If you would like to receive this publication in an alternative format, please telephone DELWP Customer Service Centre 136 186, email

[email protected], via the National Relay Service on 133 677 www.relayservice.com.au. This document is also available on the

internet at www.delwp.vic.gov.au

The Program Highlights Context Actions Future

The Program

Sustainable Irrigation Program Delivery

Focus

� Improve on-farm water use efficiency

(WUE) and increase best land

management practices

� Enable irrigators to connect to, and

utilise WUE and productivity gains from,

modernised water supply systems

� Manage salinity and comply with

obligations in the Murray-Darling Basin

� Ensure effective management of

environmental impacts of irrigation

The Sustainable Irrigation Program, administered through the Department of Environment, Land, Water

and Planning (DELWP), has been working to improve the environmental outcomes of Victoria’s irrigation

sector for over 25 years. The Program has delivered sustainability outcomes over this period across the

major irrigation districts; the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District and Victorian Mallee region in Northern

Victoria, and the Macalister Irrigation District in West Gippsland.

Irrigated agriculture in Victoria accounts for

38% of the state’s agricultural output and 79%

of consumptive water use, while utilising just

3% of Victorian land area. The chart on the

right represents all surface water diversions for

consumptive use in Victoria in 2013-141, as well

as the releases of Environmental Water which

occurred in that period, demonstrating the high

demand for irrigation water.

The irrigation sector in Victoria contributed

$4.4 billion to the economy in 2013-14, playing

a pivotal role in supporting regional

communities across many parts of Victoria.

The intensive nature of irrigation has significant

implications for the sustainability of high levels

of production and has the potential to present considerable environmental impacts in terms of local and

catchment scale effects if left unmanaged.

Over the past two years, the Sustainable Irrigation Program has continued to provide positive productive

outcomes in regional Victoria for irrigators and regional economies, while mitigating and managing the

impacts of irrigated production on the natural environment and third parties.

1 Consumptive water use and environmental water use data extracted from the Victorian Water Accounts 2013-14

Almond plantation near Robinvale in the Mallee Region. Photo courtesy Marcia Riederer

End use of surface water diverted under consumptive entitlements plus

use under environmental entitlements 2013-14

Map of Victoria’s major irrigation areas


Program Highlights 2013-15

What is a Whole Farm Plan?

A Whole Farm Plan is a design for the

whole property which provides a framework

for managing irrigation water and drainage

in the most efficient, environmentally

responsible way on an individual farm.

The planning process involves a facilitated

decision making process and provides a

property layout for irrigation systems,

ensuring that all local and regional land and

water management issues are considered

by the landholder. This increases

understanding of improved management

practices and identifies different options for

farmers to take up new practices and/or

undertake works to achieve productive and

environmental gains.

Case Study: Whole Farm Plan and Farm Upgrades in the GMID

Albert Qose owns a 38 Ha beef farm in Congupna. After seeing the benefits of modernisation for farms in the

GMID, he undertook a Whole Farm Plan and successfully applied for incentives for works through Round Three of

the Farm Water Program.

The Whole Farm Plan identified a range of improvement options for managing and performing up grades on his

flood-irrigated property through the Farm Water Program. Albert chose to install a pipe and riser system which

delivers water more quickly and efficiently to his paddocks and makes better use of an existing re-use dam on the

property. These works resulted in substantial water-savings, 45 ML of which were transferred to the

Commonwealth government for environmental purposes. As well as water savings, more targeted application and

efficient management of water through informed planning improves outcomes for the local environment and

wider catchment by reducing run-off, water-logging and salinity impacts.

Irrigator Engagement and Whole Farm Planning

The Sustainable Irrigation Program offers financial incentives and independent, valued advice to irrigators

for designing Whole Farms Plans2. Whole Farm Plans are a farm-based tool aimed at encouraging

sustainable land and water management practices and modernising on-farm irrigation infrastructure so it

is more efficient.

Regional projects are modernising irrigation supply networks and on-farm irrigation infrastructure in the

major irrigation districts of Victoria. Both State and Commonwealth governments are investing in making

the best use of Victoria’s scarce water resources by improving supply to water users, reducing transmission

losses and upgrading on-farm systems.

Whole Farm Plans are an important tool in managing

modernised supply of irrigation water and on-farm systems

to ensure that upgrades result in the best possible outcomes

for individual irrigators, regional communities and the

environment. Whole Farm Plans are required in the

Macalister and Goulburn Murray Irrigation Districts for

eligibility for on-farm infrastructure incentives.

Whole Farm Plans 2013-15

In the past two years, the Sustainable Irrigation Program

contributed to the development of 390 individual Whole

Farm Plans across Victoria. These Plans covered an area

of 40,057 Hectares. Many of these plans are followed up

with on-farm water use efficiency upgrades. A review of

the Whole Farm Plan program in 2014 re-asserted the

importance of these incentives and independent advice

for public and private outcomes of irrigation

modernisation.3

2 Farm planning programs are regionally specific to meet local irrigator needs and are called individual names in each region. 3 See ‘Actions’ Section for further information

A farmer discusses his Whole Farm Plan with Goulburn

Broken CMA staff . Photo courtesy Phil McGowan



Salinity Management in the

Mallee

The Mallee is underlain by a sandy

aquifer with groundwater as salty as

seawater which is connected in places

to the Murray River. When water is

applied to the surface for irrigation it

can enter the aquifer and cause salty

groundwater to enter the River.

The Mallee is broken up into Salinity

Impact Zones according to

hydrogeological features. Each zone

has a particular level of risk for river

salinity as a result of irrigation.

Salinity Offset Charges are an

important signal for new

developments, directing expansion to

low impact zones with lower charges.

These charges cover the estimated

cost of offsetting the additional

impact on river salinity. This money is

reinvested in programs and works to

mitigate salinity impacts. The Murray-Darling Basin Plan

In 2013, Victoria signed the Murray-Darling Basin

Plan Intergovernmental Agreement, which

outlined the implementation of the Murray-

Darling Basin Plan. The Basin Plan has a major

influence on the policy setting for water resource

management in northern Victoria, with increased

responsibilities outlined for water quality, salinity

management and environmental water recovery.

The Plan represents an interstate approach to

improving the health of ecological systems within

the Murray-Darling Basin and the sustainability

of agriculture and regional businesses

communities into the future.

Murray-Darling Basin Salinity Management

One of the most significant impacts of intensive

irrigation is the increased risk and impacts relating

to land, groundwater and stream salinity. Victoria

has been contributing to the intergovernmental

management of salinity in the Murray-Darling Basin

since 1988.

CMAs work to mitigate salinity impacts and manage

salinity threats through two major frameworks;

regional Land and Water Management Plans

(LWMPs), and meeting Victoria’s obligations under

the Murray-Darling Basin Plan (MDBP) and Basin

Salinity Management Strategy (BSMS).

Through the BSMS, Victoria is accountable for all

actions which have an impact on salinity across the

Basin catchment regions. By monitoring and managing activities which either increase the salinity of the

system (salinity debit), or decrease the salinity of the system (salinity credit), Basin states manage the

activities which define salinity outcomes for the Basin as a whole.

Salinity Management in 2013-15

Victoria manages its BSMS obligations by allocating salinity credits

to CMAs, which are responsible for ensuring salinity impacts in

their regions do not exceed their allocation of credits. Credits have

historically been allocated to North Central CMA, Mallee CMA and

Gouburn Broken CMA. In the past two years, these Basin CMAs

have implemented policy and undertaken a range of projects to

improve salinity outcomes in northern Victoria, as well as

performing mandatory five-year reviews of State accountable

actions.

All of Victoria’s Basin CMAs achieved 100 per cent compliance with

their salinity allocations in both 2013/14 and 2014/15 by

implementing Regional Catchment Strategies, LWMPs and support

of Salt Interception Schemes. Specific actions include redesigning

farm systems through Whole Farm Planning and irrigation system

upgrades as well as targeting reforestation and vegetation

management to mitigate salinity impacts. Monitoring of salinity

was also maintained and reported through the CMAs.

Developing BSM2030

In 2015, DELWP and regional partners made significant

contributions to the development of the new inter-

jurisdictional strategy for managing salinity within the

Murray-Darling Basin, ‘BSM2030’. The strategy

maintains existing accountability frameworks and

targets, as well as salinity monitoring and management

measures. The strategy proposes changes to the

operation of Salt Interception Schemes for responsive

management, and will account for the effects of

environmental watering on Basin salinity.

Salinity impacts at Psyche Bend Lagoon in the Mallee region



Case Study: On-Farm WUE in the MID

The 100 Ha Missen family dairy farm in the MID was one of

the first in the region to install irrigation water re-use

infrastructure as part of a Whole Farm Plan. In recent years,

the Missen family has improved their on-farm efficiency

through the incentive program delivered by West Gippsland

CMA and DEDJTR. Increased re-use capacity, soil moisture

monitors, rationalized irrigation bays and automated

irrigation at high flow rates have resulted in productivity

gains, water savings and reduced environmental impacts on

the health of Gippsland Lakes downstream. The Missen farm

is near the Thomson River which feeds into the Lakes, so

improving water-use efficiency and capturing nutrient-rich

run-off water is a critical step in protecting this natural

system.

‘We certainly don’t want any problems caused in the Lakes

by what we’re doing’

On-Farm Water Use Efficiency

The Sustainable Irrigation Program works across a number of regional projects in Victoria’s major irrigation areas to deliver

improved on-farm water use efficiency by providing incentives to

farmers and leveraging investment in irrigation modernisation by

the State and Commonwealth Governments. Upgrades to

irrigation systems improve water use efficiency and reduce the

environmental impacts of irrigation including groundwater,

salinity, and water quality and drainage issues.

On-Farm Modernisation

Across the three major irrigation districts in Victoria, there are

different frameworks and programs which irrigators can access to

assist on-farm upgrades to irrigation systems.

In the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District, the Commonwealth-

funded Victorian Farm Modernisation Project is being delivered

through the Farm Water Program, which has provided incentives

from State and Commonwealth Governments for on-farm upgrades since 20104. In the Macalister Irrigation

District, North East CMA and Victorian Mallee, the Sustainable Irrigation Program funds incentives through

the CMAs for on-farm works.

On-Farm Upgrades in 2013-15

On-farm water use efficiency works have been

progressing across Victoria’s major irrigation

areas over the past two years. The Sustainable

Irrigation Program has leveraged $30 million

from Round 1 of the $100 million Victorian

Farm Modernisation Program in the Goulburn Murray Irrigation District. As of November 2015, 16, 000

Hectares of works across 136 properties are underway, with 16.3 GL of projected water savings. Under the

funding agreement with landholders, 9 GL of saved water is transferred to the Commonwealth for

environmental purposes, contributing to Victoria reaching SDL recovery targets under the Basin Plan.

Where alternative funding is not available, the Sustainable Irrigation Program directly invests in providing

incentives for farmers to undertake on-farm irrigation upgrades and take advantage of supply

modernisation in their region, creating water savings for productive use. In the Macalister Irrigation District,

North East CMA and Victorian Mallee5, 142 landholders undertook irrigation management and system

upgrades with the assistance of incentives. These works covered an area of 2, 751 Hectares and had

associated water savings of 3, 002 ML. In addition, eight re-use systems were installed in the Macalister

Irrigation District, representing water savings of 740 ML.

4 For previous Farm Water Program funding sources and associated water savings, see Appendix, Table 2

5 The Mallee Incentives Program also receives funding through other sources

On-Farm Upgrades

On-farm upgrades to irrigation systems aim to

improve water use efficiency by reducing

losses, increasing crop uptake of water,

decreasing irrigation times and maximising

the capacity for re-use of irrigation water.

Measures include:

� Improving farm layouts and channels

� Converting farm channels to piped

systems with risers.

� Improvements to flood, spray and drip

irrigation

� Automation and rationalisation of

irrigation infrastructure

� Converting from flood to spray irrigation

� Installing re-use systems

� Installing soil moisture monitoring

systems

Gippsland Lakes. Photo courtesy West Gippsland CMA


Program Context 2013-15

Program Strategic Directions

The SIP Strategic Directions (2013-2018) highlights statewide priorities for investment in irrigation directed

at supporting the Program’s overarching goal;

‘A productive, efficient and sustainable irrigation industry supported by improved irrigation infrastructure’

The figure below demonstrates the progression of outcomes which the program is delivering to reach this

goal.

Victorian Climate Conditions 2013-15

The period from 2013 to 2015 saw statewide rainfall averages of well below the long-term average,

particularly in the northern and western regions of Victoria. These dry conditions occurred in conjunction

with temperatures well above average. 2014 was Victoria’s warmest year on record, exceeding the long-

term average by 1.15 degrees. The maps below indicate the areas of rainfall deficiencies across Victoria6.

This climatic scenario had direct impacts on the irrigation sector through increased demand for productive

water during the irrigation seasons. In both the 2012/13 and 2014/15 seasons, Lower Murray Water,

Mallee CMA and DELWP agreed to a seasonal adjustment of Annual Use Limits for the Mallee region of 25%

and 30% respectively. Annual Use Limits dictate the maximum amount of water that is permitted to be

applied to a certain property on a yearly basis. A seasonal adjustment to AULs of 11% was also triggered in

the Macalister Irrigation District for the 2013/14 irrigation season.

6 Maps and Data from the Bureau of Meteorology


Program Context 2013-15

Prioritising Investment

Funding for the Sustainable Irrigation Program has varied in recent years, with budgetary pressures leading

to capacity issues across the program to deliver on strategic outcomes and manage the environmental

impacts of Victoria’s irrigation sector.

Since 2013/14 there has been a recommitment by successive governments to increase funding for

managing irrigation in Victoria.

Reviews of both State and Commonwealth irrigation sustainability and water use efficiency programs have

shown the positive cost benefit ratio of investment in sustainable irrigation. These benefits are both

through private gains by irrigators and public gains for regional communities and environmental outcomes.

Predicted reductions in water availability due to climate change are a major concern for Victoria’s irrigators.

The ongoing commitment by Victoria to implement BSMS and contribute to Basin Plan SDL targets has

highlighted the need for investment in an efficient and resilient irrigation sector.

$14.6 million was invested in the Sustainable Irrigation Program in 2013-15 by the Victorian Government

through Round 3 of the Environmental Contribution Levy. This levy is collected from water customers to

promote the sustainable management of water and address adverse water related environmental impacts.

Funding is then allocated by the Government through DELWP to delivery partners (DEDJTR and CMAs) to

deliver the Program across Victoria’s major irrigation catchments.

Budget Component Funding 2013/14

($’000s)

Funding 2014/15

($’000s)

Linking Farms and Catchments with Irrigation

Modernisation 1 991 995

Sustainable Irrigated Agriculture and Land

Management 3 633 5 256

Basin Salinity Management 115 2132

Sustainable Irrigation Research & Development7 270 270

Total ($’000s) 6 008 8 653

Irrigation and the MDBP

The irrigation sector, as Victoria’s major extractor of water for

consumptive use, has been impacted by Victoria’s obligations under

the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. The availability of productive water

has been significantly reduced due to Victoria’s contribution to water

recovery to meet Sustainable Diversion Limit (SDL) targets.

SDLs are a component of the MDBP directed at improving

environmental conditions in the Basin by setting a cap on water

diversions from the Murray River. The cap is set as a 2,750 GL

reduction from 2009 levels, which is being achieved through a

combination of water buybacks and investment in infrastructure

efficiency.

As of December 2015, 1,164 GL has been recovered, achieving 71%

of the recovery target. 761 GL of this water recovery has occurred in

Northern Victoria as part of Victoria’s contribution to the Plan.

Irrigation modernisation projects are providing efficiency and

resilience outcomes for Victoria’s irrigators in conjunction with

environmental water recovery.

7 Funding for Sustainable Irrigation Research & Development is via Basin Salinity Management funds, not the Environmental Contribution Levy.

Environmental watering event in the Nyah-

Vinifera National Park. Photo courtesy Mallee

CMA


Sustainable Irrigation Program Actions

In addition to the actions outlined in the ‘Highlights’ section of this report, the Sustainable Irrigation

Program delivers sustainability outcomes by implementing LWMPs, engaging with regional communities

and monitoring and management of irrigation impacts.

Land and Water Management Plans

LWMPs are planning and implementation guidelines that are developed regionally to identify and manage

natural resource management issues in Victoria’s designated irrigation areas. Each LWMP sits under an

overarching Regional Catchment Strategy to provide a coordinated approach to managing the impacts of

irrigation from a catchment to property scale.

LWMPs focus on water-use efficiency, land management practices and guiding new irrigation

developments, as well as increasing capacity for irrigation management through extension and community

engagement. LWMPs set targets and define implementation plans for managing environmental impacts of

irrigation including water quality, groundwater levels and salinity. LWMPs and actions identified in

BSM2030 provide the basis for the Sustainable Irrigation Program across Victoria’s major irrigation districts.

Review of Whole Farm Plan Programs 2014

A review of the government’s extension and incentive program for Whole Farm Plans was driven by a need

to prioritise funding for public benefit and reductions in the delivery capacity of Catchment Management

Authorities (CMAs) and The Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources

(DEDJTR) to provide extension services and incentives for whole farm planning.

The review found that Whole Farm Plans were integral to stimulate on-farm irrigation system upgrades that

resulted in positive environmental benefits at a catchment scale through reduced salinity and nutrient

impacts and more efficient management of water. The independent advice offered by extension officers

was found to be integral to farmers taking consideration of environmental impacts and make informed

decisions about practice change and works.

Protecting the Health of the Gippsland Lakes – Macalister Nutrient Reduction Program

Southern Rural Water, in partnership with government and community stakeholders, was a finalist in the

2014 Premier’s Sustainability Awards for the Macalister Nutrient Reduction Program.

The Program includes key actions of the

Sustainable Irrigation Program in West

Gippsland, particularly the implementation of

the Macalister LWMP, on-farm water-use

efficiency improvements and encouraging best

management practice irrigation. Over the past

15 years this Program has created water

savings of 29, 000 ML and achieved nutrient

reductions of over 100 tonnes each year8.

The nomination of the Macalister Nutrient

Reduction Program as a finalist in these

Awards is an important acknowledgement of

the long term catchment-wide outcomes of

the Sustainable Irrigation Program in

contributing to the protection of the Gippsland

Lakes.

8 Southern Rural Water 2014

Photo courtesy West Gippsland CMA



New Irrigation Developments

Regional Irrigation Development Guidelines (IDGs) ensure new developments avoid or minimise

environmental impacts by implementing best land management practice and clarifying standards and

expectations for irrigators under the Water Act 1989.

The IDG process involves collaboration between Water Corporations, CMAs and DEDJTR. Water

Corporations are responsible for processing applications for Water Use Licenses and associated Works

Licenses, CMAs provide advice on regional catchment issues and DEDJTR staff provide case management,

guiding landholders who are undertaking new developments through the process and providing advice on

information requirements.

IDGs consider the different characteristics of each region including catchment management issues and

priorities contained in Regional Catchment Strategies and LWMPs. In particular, the environmental impacts

of development are addressed, including groundwater, salinity, water quality and native vegetation

impacts.

In 2013-15, CMAs and DEDJTR processed 89 referrals for irrigation developments across Victoria.

Community Engagement

The Sustainable Irrigation Program delivers

community engagement throughout Victoria’s

irrigation regions. DEDJTR and the CMAs

implement education and training

opportunities for regional irrigators, as well as

providing access to advice and services,

particularly through Whole Farm Plans and

other land management tools.

Sustainable Irrigation Program delivery

partners also engage extensively with

community groups, irrigators and organisations

to ensure integration and coordination across

regional communities and to gain stakeholder

input into discussions and reviews surrounding

strategic planning processes including LWMPs.

In 2013-15, delivery partners directly engaged

with 127 irrigators in an advice capacity and

ran a range of events which were attended by

over 750 people around the state. In addition,

over 200 partnerships with stakeholders were

established or maintained during this period.

Monitoring and Reducing Irrigation Impacts

The Sustainable Irrigation Program supports implementation of LWMPs and BSMS through the coordination

of processes and systems which monitor and report on watertable depth, groundwater salinity, soil salinity

and surface water quality in irrigation areas. This includes detailed assessment of drain flow, salinity and

nutrient impacts according to local and catchment-scale risks.

In 2013-15, delivery partners ran a range of monitoring programs, which included over 1000 monitoring

actions and production of over 100 publications, fulfilling reporting requirements and providing

information to irrigators and communities on resource condition and impacts due to irrigation.



Watertable Depth Monitoring

Watertable depth monitoring is done

in intensive irrigation areas to track

the effects of ongoing application of

high volumes of irrigation water to

the landscape. This increases the

potential for shallow watertables to

impact on local and regional

productivity and salinity outcomes.

Irrigation districts have high risks

associated with groundwater levels

and CMAs undertake detailed

monitoring and management of

groundwater levels in these areas in

co-operation with community groups

and Water Corporations. The map on

right shows the outcome of

watertable monitoring in the

Shepparton Irrigation Region in 2014,

with the areas at highest risk

indicated in red.

Watertable Depth Trends 2013-15

During 2013-15 watertable levels were relatively stable period across Victoria’s major irrigation districts. As

a result of the millennium drought and improving on-farm water use efficiency, groundwater levels across

the state’s irrigation areas dropped dramatically up to 2009. Following a return to wetter conditions after

2010, watertable levels rose rapidly across the state, demonstrating the need to continue to monitor and

manage groundwater and salinity in irrigation areas for future periods of high rainfall. These trends are

indicated in the historic record of the Shepparton Irrigation District watertable monitoring program below.

Figure courtesy Goulburn Broken CMA

Figure courtesy Goulburn Broken CMA



Salinity Management in the Macalister Irrigation District

Salinity in the Macalister Irrigation District is managed through the West Gippsland Salinity Management

Plan. In the past two years, the West Gippsland CMA, Wellington Community Salinity Group and Southern

Rural Water have reviewed the salinity pump network and implemented key changes in order to continue

to effectively manage salinity impacts of irrigation in the MID. The review found that due to irrigation

modernisation activities over the past 15 years, recharge to the watertable via inefficient irrigation has

substantially reduced. This has resulted in a diminished risk of elevated watertables across the MID.

Drainage Management

The Sustainable Irrigation Program has historically funded planning and

infrastructure for public and private irrigation drainage projects.

Prioritisation of on-farm programs in recent budgetary processes has

heralded a shift away from community drainage works towards

facilitation of on-farm works which manage drainage impacts at the

farm scale.

Greater water use efficiency and improved water management on-farm

result in significant positive outcomes in terms of drainage, however

maintaining and improving effective public drainage of irrigation

regions remains a priority for the Sustainable Irrigation Program.

The Victorian Irrigation Drainage Program, which outlines policy,

coordination and investment to manage the risks of excess water in

Victoria major irrigation districts, was reviewed in 2015.

Victorian Irrigation Drainage Program Review 2015

The review found that the program has been successful in mitigating the most severe waterlogging, salinity,

water quality and drainage risks in Victoria’s irrigation landscapes, noting that lowered groundwater levels

due to rainfall deficits during the millennium drought assisted in reducing drainage requirements.

The review stated that while on-farm approaches to salinity management are sufficient to effectively

manage water from irrigation activities, they cannot handle excess water from extreme rainfall events,

which requires functional public drainage networks and effective disposal of drainage water.

Research and Development

The Sustainable Irrigation Program funds research and development projects to provide access to

information for water suppliers and irrigators which can increase decision making capabilities for water use

efficiency. These projects also enable evaluation of the outcomes of irrigation modernisation programs. In

the last two years this has focused on the use of spatial tools to identify trends and relationships between

water availability and demand. This has resulted in outputs which inform farm-scale water use and

implementation of LWMPs.

Benchmarking Water Use Efficiency in the Goulburn Murray

Irrigation District

This project has developed a statistical and geographic

description of the relationship between water demand by

specific crop types and water application by irrigators. This

measures the water use efficiency of irrigators in the Goulburn

Murray Irrigation District and allows analysis of trends in

irrigation water use in particular areas and by specific industries.

The information, presented for dairy pasture irrigators on the

right, provides CMAs and DEDJTR with an understanding of

regional irrigation performance, helping to target programs

aimed at improving irrigation management.

Drainage channel in the GMID. Photo

courtesy Phil McGowan

Figure courtesy DEDJTR



Farm-Based Irrigation Management Information System Project

This project utilises satellite-based

land and water-use data to create

tools enabling high standards of

irrigation water use efficiency for

major crops grown in the Goulburn

Murray Irrigation District and

Victorian Mallee.

The project delivers an improved

understanding of crop water

requirements, enabling irrigators to

apply the optimal amount of water

to a specific crop. This project has

developed an online tool for

irrigators, Farmweb IMIS, which

allows farmers to access data

relevant to their farm to improve

their capacity to irrigate effectively

and efficiently.

Data at farm to regional scales provides an unprecedented ability for CMAs and Water Corporations to

identify and quantify early trends in land and water use which can help avoid and manage overexploitation

of resources and environmental damage. Maps like the one above indicate the value of this regional picture

of water use efficiency.

Figure courtesy DEDJTR


Looking Ahead

The Sustainable Irrigation Program to 2020

The Sustainable Irrigation Program will continue to undertake a collaborative approach between DELWP

and its delivery partners in supporting innovative and best practice delivery of regional programs across

Victoria’s major irrigation districts.

In the 2016 budget, the Victorian Government announced $59.6 million of funding over four years to

deliver sustainability outcomes for irrigation in Victoria. DELWP and CMAs are working to develop four-year

funding agreements for all Water and Catchments Programs in Victoria over this period to provide funding

certainty for CMAs and effective local and statewide catchment management outcomes.

In the funding period to 2020, the Sustainable Irrigation Program will deliver on these outcomes through

the following priority actions:

• Supporting the finalised Water Plan for Victoria and enabling delivery of Chapter 4; Water for

Agriculture

• Supporting adoption of best practice in irrigation to reduce environmental and third party impacts

• Providing targeted and outcomes-based incentives to accelerate uptake of appropriate

technologies and planning approaches where clear public benefit exists

• Reviewing and enabling regulation and planning frameworks to enact state, regional and private

responsibilities for sustainable water management of irrigation water use

• Increasing understanding and management capacity for salinity and water quality impacts -

particularly to ensure compliance with the Murray-Darling Basin Agreement and BSM2030 –

through monitoring, evaluation and reporting actions.

• Continuing to ensure appropriate expenditure of Environmental Contribution funding for projects

which promote sustainable water use and reduce the adverse impacts of irrigation

In light of major changes in the policy and industry context for Victoria’s irrigation sector, in particular the

implementation of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan and the Victorian Government’s new Water Plan, the

Sustainable Irrigation Program will be updating both the Statewide Guidelines for the Preparation of Land

and Water Management Plans and all regional Land and Water Management Plans in Victoria’s major

irrigation districts up to 2020.

Gunbower forest in flood through environmental watering. Photo courtesy VEWH


Sustainable Irrigation Program Biennial Report

References

Australian Bureau of Statistics 2014

Bureau of Meteorology 2014, Victoria in 2013: 3rd

Warmest Year on Record

Bureau of Meteorology 2015, Victoria in 2014: Another very warm year with very dry conditions in the west

Cummins, T., Wood, M., & Fitzpatrick, C. 2015, Victorian Irrigation Drainage Program Review 2015

DELWP 2016, Murray-Darling Basin Salinity Management Strategy, Victoria’s 2014/15 Annual Report

DELWP 2015, Murray-Darling Basin Salinity Management Strategy, Victoria’s 2013/14 Annual Report

DELWP 2015, Victorian Water Accounts 2013-14; A statement of Victorian water resources.

Farm Water 2015, Participant Profile, Albert Qose

Farm Water 2015, Funding Summary November 2015

Love Our Lakes, Gippsland Lakes 2015, Every Drop Counts

Mallee Catchment Management Authority 2009, Managing Irrigation Induced Salinity in the Mallee

MDBA 2015, Progress of Water Recovery towards Bridging the Gap to Surface Water SDLs as at 31

December 2015.

Murray-Darling Basin Ministerial Council 2015, Basin Salinity Management 2030 BMS 2030

Southern Rural Water 2014, Southern Rural Water finalist in Premier’s Sustainability Awards

The Hon Lisa Neville MP 2016, A Secure Water Future for Victoria

Appendix

Table 1. Consolidated Outcomes Reported by CMAs for 2013-159

OUTPUT DESCRIPTION UNIT OUTCOMES

10

On-Farm Irrigation Infrastructure Upgraded systems (e.g. on-farm irrigation systems, flood to drip,

automation, pipe and riser etc.)

Area serviced (Ha) 275111

No. landholders/properties 142

Volume of water saved (ML) 3002

Irrigation re-use systems Area serviced (Ha) 370

No. landholders/properties 8

Volume of water saved (ML) 740

Whole Farm Plans Prepared for existing irrigation developments. Includes new plans and

modernised plans

Area covered by plans (Ha) 40 0057

No. of plans developed 390

Strategic Plan Reviews LWMP updates, WFP review etc. No. of plans developed 5

Planning Referrals New irrigation developments Planning referrals 89

Partnerships/Coordination with Stakeholder Groups Number of partnerships No. community groups 96

No. mixed partnerships 13

No. corporations/agencies 108

Engagement and Awareness Raising Events (e.g. training, field days, presentations, workshops) No. participants 799

Advice Advice (No. landholders) 229

Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting Monitoring activities of irrigation impacts Water monitoring actions 929

Property monitoring actions 93

Publications Information publication, databases and decision support materials Databases 16

Publications 100

9 Goulburn Broken CMA, North Central CMA, North East CMA, Mallee CMA and West Gippsland CMA 10 Outputs listed in this report indicate activities and works that were delivered in 2013/14 and 2014/15. Due to circumstances in delivering grants and incentives, some of these outputs may have been funded in previous financial years

and some funds have been carried over to 2015/16 for expenditure. 11 As noted, some on-farm incentives in the Mallee are funded by other sources

Appendix

Table 2: Farm Water Program funding and water savings since 2010.

Name of Project/Program Fund Source $

Million

No.

Projects

Water Savings

(GL)

Water savings transferred

(GL)

On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program (Round 1) Commonwealth 21 76 9.3 4.9

Northern Victorian Irrigation Renewal Project (Stage

2) State 16 72 9 4.5

On-Farm Irrigation Efficiency Program (Round 2) Commonwealth 23 87 11.4 5.8

Victorian On-farm State Priority Projects State and

Commonwealth 43 146 21.6 10.8

Victorian Farm Modernisation Project (Tranche 1) State and

Commonwealth 30 136 16.3 9

www.delwp.vic.gov.au

biennial report 2013 -15 - water and catchments - water ... · sustainable irrigation program...

Documents